We all have habits we need to break—this could be the motivation you need!

We all know a solid sleep, in addition to a balanced diet and physical activity, is essential in maintaining good physical and mental health. But have you ever heard of just how beneficial it is?

Several scientific studies reveal that when our nights are not restful enough, it can significantly affect our brain and cause premature aging. 

The Bad Habit We Need To Change

Research carried out by the University of Zurich, Switzerland, concludes that sleepless nights can age the brain by two years, in addition to harming our system and body. The study analyzed MRI scans of 134 adults aged 18 to 39 and looked at the different reactions and changes in the brain after several periods of sleeplessness.

After entering the data into a tool that can estimate brain age using machine learning, the researchers found that one night without sleep made the brain appear one to two years older than the subject's actual age.

So how do we get a better night's rest? Start with your sleep habits. A few easy ones: cool your bedroom to 67°F, use a sleep mask for total darkness, and try to get 8-10 hours of shut-eye a night. Once you've mastered these, try a few harder ones that will give you a big pay off: avoid screens at least one hour before bed (yes, that means no scrolling!), read or listen to an audiobook or a podcast to unwind, turn the lights on low or use a salt lamp to eliminate blue light.

Changing your habits before bed will make a big difference in the way your brain acts overnight.

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